Credit:WWE
WWE superstars CM Punk and John Cena’s rivalry peaked during the summer of 2011 with Punk’s iconic “Pipe Bomb” promo and their five-star WWE Championship match at Money in the Bank. It was defined as a clash of personas: Cena as the hero and Punk as the anti-establishment “Voice of the Voiceless”. Punk’s return to WWE in November 2023, following a tumultuous stint in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and a decade away from the company, allowed him to share the ring with Cena one final time at Night of Champions in June 2025. The match, part of John Cena’s year-long farewell tour before his retirement, saw Cena retain the Undisputed WWE Championship against CM Punk.
In a candid interview with E! News, CM Punk opened up about his rivalry with John Cena, describing the 17-time world champion in WWE as his “wrestling soulmate”, while expressing deep regret over his abrupt departure from the company in 2014. “He was the goody two-shoes, Boy Scout, good guy that a lot of places booed out of the building. Then I was this despicable, bad guy, and people seemed to love it,” he said. As Punk prepares to challenge Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at Summer Slam 2025, he reflected how their rivalry created an electric atmosphere, with fans split between Cena’s loyal supporters and Punk’s rebellious following.
CM Punk walked away from WWE in January 2014
In the interview, CM Punk mentions his biggest regret being walking away from WWE in January 2014, the day after the Royal Rumble, due to frustrations with the company’s direction and his own physical and mental exhaustion. “There’s a part of me in my head that regrets stepping out because of what more we could have done,” Punk admitted. He reportedly believes their rivalry could have produced even more iconic moments had he stayed, a sentiment that resonates with fans who longed for additional chapters in their saga.
Punk’s comments also shed light on behind-the-scenes dynamics he shared with John Cena. In a 2019 Starrcast III interview, he praised Cena’s willingness to let him improvise, breaking down Cena’s predictable comeback sequence in a way no one had before. “I was the first guy to be like, ‘Why does everybody always take their shoulder like, you know, what’s going to happen?’” Punk recalled, noting how Cena embraced his creativity, which alleviated pressure on Cena as WWE’s top star. Reports claim that this mutual respect allowed their rivalry to flourish, with Punk’s rebellious edge complementing Cena’s polished persona.
